Corn Allergy
People have allergies for many different grains and grain products, and while corn falls far below wheat in this category, it is still not uncommon to have a corn allergy. Corn allergies cause all the same symptoms of other allergies, including runny nose, sneezing, hives, asthma, diarrhea, vomiting, fatigue, joint pain, swelling of limbs and throat, which can result in respiratory problems, and even death.
A corn allergy can be diagnosed via a scratch test, where the skin is pricked and corn protein is scattered on the site. If a skin irritation or hive develops, it indicates an allergy. Also, if you were to go to the doctor’s office immediately after having a corn allergy reaction, a blood test would be given for IgE antibodies that are released by the immune system when it senses an allergen is present. As with all allergies, a corn allergy is an action of the immune system to protect itself from intrusion of what it perceives to be a threat, in this case, corn protein.
The problem with the allergy skin test is that it is usually only fifty-percent effective and it is also very hard to get to see your doctor immediately after an allergic response. The test for a corn allergy can be harder than some other allergies to diagnose. Sometimes a panel of blood tests needs to be taken. As with other food allergies, a corn allergy can be genetic. People most apt to have this allergy usually have other allergies to foods, hay fever, asthma, and eczema.
Unfortunately for those people who do have a corn allergy, American supermarkets are full of foods containing corn or corn additives and corn byproducts. The only treatment for a corn allergy is to eliminate all corn products from you diet. These include corn, high fructose corn syrup, corn sweetener, corn meal, corn syrup solids, baking powder, hominy, corn flour, maize, masa, food starch, vegetable gum, modified gum starch, vegetable starch, sorbitol, dextrin, dextrose, maltodextrines, vinegar, corn oil, and the list really goes on and on.
Some of the foods that contain these ingredients are spaghetti sauce, catsup, taco dinners, ice cream, flavored yogurt, chocolate milk, puddings, processed meats, egg substitutes, Velveeta-brand processed food spread, butter w/corn syrup, canned fruits with syrup, sweetened juices, fruit drinks and fruit punch, corn oil margarines, some salad dressings, corn oil, powdered coffee creamers, popcorn, and many more. Other kinds of products containing corn that must be avoided include bath powders, laxatives, starch, glue, cosmetics, stamp adhesive, aspirin, vitamins, chewing gum, talcum powder, cough drops and throat lozenges, stickers, ointments, toothpaste, etc.
The number one thing to do with a food allergy such as this is to read all labels very carefully. A corn-free diet can include skim milk, buttermilk, plain yogurt, fresh meat, fish or poultry, cheese, eggs, peas, beans, lentils, peanut butter without corn syrup, unsweetened fruit juices, oils other than corn oil, sour cream, butter, cheese, bacon, lard, shortening, margarine without corn oil, onion powder, spices, mustard, and pickles.
As you can see, corn products are difficult to avoid unless you eat fresh foods without any kind of additives. While it may be hard at first to follow such a diet, as you learn which foods to eat and which to avoid, all of the uncomfortable symptoms and illnesses caused by a corn allergy will disappear.